A 24-year-old Dublin man has had a 2 and a half years jail sentence suspended for an unprovoked attack on a French tourist.

Darren O'Byrne of Cloonmore Park in Tallaght pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown on June 19th 2010.

The court heard French visitor Victor Ribeiro and a friend stepped out of a taxi from a night out in the city centre when without warning he was punched by a group of 2 or 3 young people.

He was hit repeatedly and fell to the ground. The beating continued when 8 more people arrived including the accused Darren O'Byrne who admits kicking the victim in the face.

Mr. Ribeiro managed an escape and he reported what happened to a garda. He later said he had been in fear for his life. He has returned to France and has made a full recovery.

Several of the group responsible for the assault were caught after an 'extended foot chase'. There was blood on O'Byrne's top and when this was confirmed as being that of the victims, O'Byrne was arrested the following month.

Darren O'Byrne has paid the victim 1,600 compensation as a show of remorse. He has one previous conviction for possession of drugs. Two other people had been arrested for the assault, one was never prosecuted and the other received a juvenile caution.

Sentencing O'Byrne, Judge Mary Ellen Ring described what happened as an attack on 'an innocent stranger and visitor to this country'. However she said he has shown genuine remorse and she noted a probation report concluded that he is at low risk of re-offending.

She has imposed a 2 and a half years suspended sentence.